The 51-mile Prairie Spirit Trail leads the state as the
first and the longest rail-trail

in Kansas
providing hundreds of visitors each year a

glimpse of Kansas'
natural treasures and best kept secrets. In fact, in July 2010, the trail became Kansas' 25th state park and it got a new name -- Prairie Spirit Rail Trail State Park. The trail, a part of the National Rail Trail
Network, is a multi-use trail

designed for hiking and biking; non-motorized use and is
open year round.

The trail's surface is approximately 12-feet wide and
outside the city limits of Garnett,

Iola and Ottawa it is composed of a hard-packed
mixture of limestone

and calcium chloride. Inside Garnett, Iola and Ottawa the surface of the

trail is asphalt. No permits are required inside these city
limits. Trail

passes are required for persons 16 years and older who
travel outside

these aforementioned city limits.

Photo courtesy Garnett Tourism

PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION

Created in 3 phases, Phase I
from Richmond
to Welda opened to

the public on March 30, 1996. Phase 2, Ottawa
to Richmond was

completed in the sprint of 1998. Phase 3, Iola to Welda was
opened for

public use in the fall of 2008. The trail is managed and
maintained by

the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Through
agreements with

the cities of Iola, Garnett and Ottawa, trail maintenance within city limits are provided by those cities.